Automatic cooking-machine



0. E. VANCE AND P. S. BAKER.

AUTOMATIC COOKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC-5, 1911.

2 SHEET$SHEET l.

' Patented July 19,

0. E. VANCE AND P. s. BAKER.

AUTOMATIC COOKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 5, I917- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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OWEN ELSWOBTH VANCE AND PAUL STANLEY BAKER, OF MUSCATINE, IOWA AUTOMATIC G00KING-llllACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 19, 1921.

Application filed December 5, 1917. Serial No. 205,678.

packaged goods, particularly canned goods,

of the type shown in our Patent No. 1,139.932, dated May 18, 1915. The ob ects of our present invention are to simphfy the construction of such patented machine; to provide novel means for preventing jamming of the cans; to provide novel means for automatically stopping the machine if a can should improperly enter the machine;

' to provide novel means for adjusting the carrier in the casing so that the machine can be arranged to efficiently handle cans of various diameters; to simplify the feeding and discharge of the cans, and to produce a thoroughly durable and compact ma chine in which the goods can be treated at high temperatures, if desired, and which machine will be entirely automatic in ts operation, can be readily cleaned and easlly inspected; and will not require any timing devices either to enter the cans into the machine or discharge them therefrom; and which does not require endless chains to move the cans through the cooking chamber.

The machine has a heating chamber to which the cans can be fed continuously and from which they can be continuously delivered and wherein they may be retained a sufficient time in traveling from the feed to the delivery to insure the desired heating or cooking of the contents of the cans; and in which the cans can be heated to any desired temperature necessary for the cooking or preserving thereof. The machine will receive cans, agitate them while being treated, heat them uniformly and quickly, and discharge-them safely. The cans can be fed to the machine continuously or intermittently, and the cans cannot jam therein as there is only one moving part inside of i the machine by which the cans are conveyed from the feed to the discharge.

e will explain the invention more in detail with reference to the embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanyin drawings, in which: a

F g. 1 a side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a detail enlarged side elevation thereof partly in section.

Fig.3 is an end elevation thereof partly in section.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view thereof on line 4-4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail.

The machine preferably comprises a evlindric tank or casing having an outer wall 1 closed by heads 1 and 1 suitably secured thereto. Journaled in adjustable bearings 8 and 8 attached to said heads is an axially disposed shaft 2 which extends outwardly through the bearing on head 1 and may be connected with a steam supply not shown, as in our aforesaid patent.

Upon said shaft 2 within the cylinder are mounted spiders 2 to the peripheries of which are connected longitudinally disposed angle bars 3* arranged parallel with the shaft and set so that one angle projects radially of the shaft. The shaft spiders and bars together constitute a rotary can carrier or conveyer within the casing by which the cans or packages are moved as hereinafter explained.

Within the casing 1 and secured to the internal wall thereof is a spiral guide 4 (preferably formed of T-iron, as shown) which extends from the feed to the delivery end of the cylinder.

The casing has a feed inlet opening near one end into which the cans may be directed by a chute 1 which projects from the side of the casing and is adapted to direct cans into the casing above the level of the shaft and into the receiving end of the spiral can guideway 4, as described in said patent.

The cans enter the casing between the adjacent bars 3 of the carrier and are carried around by and with said bars as the carrier rotates, and the spiral guideway 4 causes the cans to move endwise longitudinally of the casing, until eventually the cans reach a discharge opening 4 in the side of the casing adjacent head 1. through which opening the cans escape by gravity.

The carrier may be operated by any desired means. As shown a pinion 6 is secured to the shaft 2 outside of and adjacent head 1 and meshes with a worm gear 6 011 a transverse shaft 6 journaled in brackets 6 attached to the head 1"; and on this shaft 6 is a pinion 6 meshing with a pinion 6 on a stub shaft 6 mounted in a bracket 6 and carrying a driving pulley 6 which can be belted to any suitable source of power.

The worm 6 is loose on shaft 6", but may.

be looked thereto by means of a clutch member (3 of any suitable type, splined on shaft 6 and adapted to engage a clutch member 6 on the end of the worm.

To change the speed of rotation of the carrier for slow or fast Cooking, different sized pulleys 6 may be employed in the well known manner.

The feed opening is about equal in width to the height of the largest cans to be treated in the machine. Each can enters lying on its side, so that it can readily roll into the casing; see Figs; 3 and 4. The feed opening is a good deal higher than the width of the can but the upper part of the opening is normally closed by a door or valve 1 which is attached to a hinge rod or rock shaft 1 suitably journaled and supported in the upper part of the door frame as shown. The door or valve 1 is provided at its lower edge .with an inwardly projecting flange 1 The door may be fastened to the rod 1 by set screws or other suitable means. Normally this door is closed, as indicated in Fig. 4, and the cansC can roll beneath the door and the flangel and drop into one 1 of the spaces between the adjacent angle bars 3 on the carrier as described, the flange 1 on the door not interfering with the entry of the cans.

- The shaft 1 projects beyond the adjacent end 1 of the machine and carries on its projecting end an arm 1, which is connected by a link 1 to an arm 6 on a rock-shaft 6 mounted in a bracket 6 adjacent the shaft 6", and on this shaft 6 is another-arm 6 preferably carrying aroller 6 which engages the grooved clutch member 6. These parts are so arranged that if the door or valve 1 is swung outward, as hereinafter described, the rocking of the shaft 1, through. the described connections, rocks the shaft 6, and causes declutching of the worm 6 and consequently stops the rotation of the carrier.

It sometimes happens that a can does not drop, into the pocket between the ribs 3 at the proper time, and heretofore such a can would be caught between the edge of the rib and the door frame and be pinched between the rib and the frame and be crushed or mashed, which will cause trouble as such crushed can may not roll and is apt to cause clogging of'the machine; in such case considerable delay is caused in opening the machine and removing the crushed can. To prevent such occurrences the flange 1 on the door or valve 1" is made of such length that if a can properly enters th pocket on the carrier it will pass such flange 1 but if for any reason a can should not properly enter a pocket it will be pinched between the edge of a rib 3 and the flange 1 (see Fig. 3) and the pressure on the can would force the door or valve 1 outwardly and thereby rock shaft 1 and cause the stoppage of the machine, and the operator could then open the door, remove the improperly fed can, and restart the machine in operation.

If the first can fed properly enters the pocket all cans following properly will enter the machine without trouble. If for any cause a can is caught, and the safety door was not on the machine it would am against the top of the feed opening and enter the machine in a mashed condition, and would not roll or would not discharge and this jams the machine and spoils the cans; but our safety door and automatic stop devices prevent mashed cans entering the machine, as the machine will be stopped and the can that caused the trouble, being right at the feed inlet, can be readily removed and the machine restarted. lVith this safety door cans may be fed. into the machine either with a feeding device timed to enter a can at every pocket, or without a timed feeding (lOYlCP.

It is desirable to have the machines capable of handling different sizes and diameters of cans. It will be seen that as the carrier rotates the cans will at one time roll upon the bottom of the casing and then be carried up over the top of the carrier. \Vhile the cans are rolling on the casing at the lower side of the rarrier they are sure to be properly engaged with the guiding spiral 4:; but cans of small diameter when being carried over the top of the carrier would have less engagement with the guiding spiral t than when at the bottom thereof. and for this reason when sn'mll cans are to be treated it is desirable to raise the carrier in the rasing so that the top of the carrier will be nearer the top of the casing, and small vans will be more certainly kept in engagement with the guide ribs This may be done in various ways within the scope of the present invention. ln the drawings the carrier is shown as vertically adjustable by making the bearings S and 8*" for shaft 9 vertically adjustable. As shown more clearly in Fig. 53 ea h bearing 8 and R is provided with a wide peripheral flange 8 scrured, by means of bolts 8 to the adjacent head (1 or P), the bolts 8 engaging vertically disposed slots 8 in such head. By loosening the bolts 8 the bearings can be adjusted vertically, so as to slightly raise or lower the carrier in the casing. The bearill) ings can be adjusted by any suitable means. As shown a rod 9 is connected at one end to the bearing plate (8 or 8), said rod being on the outside of the head and conveniently engaged with the outer end of the uppermost bolt 8 fastening the bearing to the head. The free end of said rod 9 passes through a bracket 9 bolted to the head. above the bearing; and such rod may be vertically adjusted by any suitable means, a nut 9 being shown screwed onto the end. of the rod above the bracket. When it is desired to adjust the carrier the bolts 8 should be loosened; then the nuts 9 are turned so as to shift the rods 9 and adjust the bearings vertically to the desired position then the bolts 8 should be tightened, fastening the bearings securely in place. As many of bolts 8 and slots 8 may be employed as are necessary to fasten the bearings firmly and hold. them properly in position; and the slots 8 are vertically elongated sufliciently to permit the desired vertical adjustment of the carrier. A suitable packing 8 of fiber or other material may be interposed between the bearing plates and the heads, to prevent leakage of steam when the bolts are tightened. Preferably the bearing 8 is arranged inside the casing, while the bearing 8 is arranged outside the same as indicated.

By the above or other suitable means the carrier may be raised or lowered to suit the size of cans being treated.

The discharge opening 4 is preferably near the rear end of the cylinder and adjacent and below the bearings S. This opening may be surrounded by a light steel frame 1" in which is loosely hung a door 4 so that as the cans roll up on the inside of the casing they drop into this opening by ravity and roll out through the same, the oor 4 readily yielding outwardly and closing by gravity as soon as the can passes, so that heat or steam will not escape at the dis charge when nocan is passing therethrough.

Preferably the rod 1 is not fastened to the arm 6*, so that if the clutch is thrown out manually to stop the machine, when not in use, the door 1 will not be raised. The rod 1' preferably has a threaded end slidably engaged with a slot 6 in the arm 6 and a nut l is screwed on the rod and adjusted in the proper place to engage arm 6. To start the machine the lever 6 is manu ally raised until it comes in contact with the nut 1 on the rod 1 This nut also serves to regulate the adjustment of the clutch, as the higher the nut is set on the rod the farther in the clutch goes. The end of the rod 1 slides through the slot 6 in the arm 6 and when. the safety door 1 is in normal closed position the safety rod also hangs in normal position. When the arm 6 is raised and the clutch engages the nut 1 on rod 1'. lies near the arm; and if a can should go wrong and raise the door 1" it will force rod 1 down and nut 1" will force arm (i down disengaging the clutch. While the devices described are preferable we do not consider the invention restricted to such particular devices for. disengaging the clutch.

The machine is especially designed for cooking canned goods after it is scaled up in the cans by means of steam or hot water. The cans as they are fed roll through the feed chute into the troughs or grooves formed between adjacent bars 3 on the carrier and they are forced along endwise of the carrier by the spiral guide 4 toward the discharge, finally escaping through the outlet 4. The cans are preferably heated as de scribed in our aforesaid patent, while they are in the machine. If a can. is misplaced or improperly fed it is caught and forces open the door or valve 1 thereby stopping the machine and enabling the misplaced can to be removed.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a. horizontally disposed cylindric casing having a spiral guide way, and arotatable can carrier disposed axially of and within the casing, adjustable bearings for the can. carrier attached to the heads of the casing, means for vertically adjusting said hearings to adjust the carrier vertically within the casing and eccentricito the guide way, and means for fastening the bearings when adjusted.

2. In combination, a casing, a can mover therein, a movable member adjacent the can inlet in position to be engaged and forced outwardly by a can that fails to properly enter, means for driving the can mover, and

means controlled by and actuated from said member for throwing the driving means out of operation. a

3. In a cooking machine, a casing having a feed inlet, a can mover in the casing, means for operating the can mover, devices for throwing the operating means out of effective operation, a valve adj aoent the feed opening, and connections between said valve and said devices whereby if a can is improperly fed the valve is moved and the operating means is thereby rendered inoffective.

4:. In a can cooking machine, the combination of a casing,a can mover therein provided with pockets for the cans, a movable valve pivoted adjacent the can inlet in position to be engaged and forced outwardly by a can that fails to properly enter a pocket, means connected with and for driving .the can mover, and means controlled by the valve for throwing the driving means out of operation.

5. In combination, a casing having an inlet, a valve pivoted at the inlet, a can mover in the casing, means for driving said can mover, a clutch shifter and connections between said valve and the clutch shifter whereby if the valve is forced outwardly by an improperly entered can the clutch is disengaged and the can mover stopped.

6. In a cooking machine, the combination of a casing having an inlet opening, a valve pivoted at the inlet having an inwardly projecting portion, a can mover in the casing having pockets to receive the cans, means for driving said can mover, a clutch for throwing said means into or out of operation, a clutch shifter and connections between said valve and the clutch shifter whereby if the valve is forced outwardly by an improperly entered can the clutch is disengaged and the can mover stopped.

7. In combination, a casing having a feed inlet, a rotatable can carrier in the casing, means for operating the carrier; clutch means for throwing the operating means into or out of effective action, a valve at the feed opening, and connections between said valve and said clutch means whereby the carrier is stopped if a can is caught between the valve and carrier.

8. In a cooking machine, the combination of a casing, a movable carrier therein provided with pockets for the cans means for feeding cans to said pockets, a movable valve adjacent the can inlet adapted to be engaged and forced outwardly by a can failing to properly enter a pocket and pushed back bythe carrier, means for driving the carrier, and means controlled by said valve for throwing the driving means out of operation.

9. In a can cooking machine the combination of a casing having a feed opening, a valve pivoted at the feed opening, a rotatable earrier in the casing having pockets to receive the cans and move same past the opening, means for driving said carrier, a clutch for throwing said means into or out of operation, a clutch shifter, and connections between said valve and the clutch shifter, whereby if the valve is forced outwardly by an improperly entered can caught by the carrier the clutch is disengaged and the carrier stopped.

10. In can cooking machine the combination of a casing having a feed opening, a valve pivoted at the feed opening having an inwardly projecting portion, a, rotatable carrier in the casing having pockets to receive the cans and move same past the opening, means for driving said carrier, a clutch for throwing said means into or out of operation, a clutch shifter, and connections between said valve and the clutch shifter. whereby if the valve is forced outwardly by an improperly entered can caught by the carrier the clutch is disengaged and the carried stopped.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we allix our signatures.

OWEN ELSlVORTI-l VANCE. PAUL STANLEY BAKER. 

